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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS, AND GOSSIP 
ABOUT HOME AFFAIRS. 
Vases for Dried Grasses. —Will you be so 
kind as to explain to me the method of making 
vases for dried grasses and ferns, with lamp- 
chimnies ? I saw a pair not long since, but was not 
able to learn how the ornaments were put on. I 
should also be glad to know how to color and crystal- 
ize grasses, and give dried flowers the glittering ap¬ 
pearance as if dripping with dew. 
Mrs. Sarah II. L. 
Ansiver .—There are several methods of embellish¬ 
ing lamp-chimnies, which we will describe. We will 
suppose, for the first, that we desire an imitation of 
French china; a white ground or some delicate tint, 
as blue, pale green, or pink, with bands of gold and 
gay flowers. Now, for the flowers, we like nothing so 
well as the decalcomania designs for this work, and 
here we have the widest field from which to choose. 
If you wish a Chinese or Japanese vase, there are 
scores of all the curious devices used on this ware— 
of ancient, antique figures used on Egyptian, Grecian, 
and Roman pottery—there are mythological and clas¬ 
sical designs of rarest beauty and coloring, and so with 
any other “ school ” of pottery desired to be imitated, 
the embellishments are here in exact similitude. 
But if not convenient, we may substitute pictures 
either colored or engraved, and we have made very fair 
vases by means of the colored pictures found in our 
floral and other catalogues, selecting the smallest 
flowers,, cutting them out carefully, and grouping 
tastefully. This is all a matter of convenience and 
taste, the most important point being to fasten the de¬ 
signs securely, so that no ground-paint, or plaster, 
will run under; and to use care as regards arrange¬ 
ment, not putting a Chinese mandarin with a group of 
the muses; or a classical goddess with a French bou¬ 
quet; such incongruities at once show the imitation. 
Supposing, though, that all the designs are carefully 
cut out, and the chimnies perfectly clean and well pol¬ 
ished, then arrange your centre pieces, or any other 
form of adornment you see proper, upon a piece of 
paper of same size as the chimnies ; then mix a little 
scraped soap and water to a thick mass; dip into it a 
strand of coarse thread and pass it round the centre 
of the chimney; remove it, and again wetting, pass 
it, lengthwise or longitudinally, round so that it crosses 
the former line in two places, then across on the other 
side in the same manner. This gives you four central 
points ; next take your central designs, two or fonr, 
and, placing the centre of each one against the central 
spot, where the lines cross on the outside of the chim¬ 
ney ; hold them in place, successively, and with a fine 
camel’s hair pencil dipped in the solution of soap, 
mark out the outlines, so that when placed within, 
they may be put directly in proper position. Next, if 
paper pictures are used, coat them with gum arabic, 
mixed to the consistency of syrup, and carefully 
rubbed until not a particle of undissolved gum or any 
roughness remains; then put the design in place, 
either with the figures, or if the chimney is narrow, 
with a stiff wire bent to shape and furnished with a 
pad on one end, with which pat the picture all over, 
until not an air bubble nor a wrinkle prevents the per¬ 
fect union of the paper and the glass. Upon this de¬ 
pends the perfection of the work in a great measure. 
When done, wet a camel’s hair pencil in the mucilage 
and go round all the edges so as to fill them com¬ 
pletely ; then put on narrow lines of gold, either using (sweet), scraping each cob with a knife; beat two eggs, 
gilded paper, plain, or liquid gold, and if liked, lines the yolks and whites separately, perfectly light; add the 
of flowers, or any fancy borders may be put at the up- yolks to the corn, with half a teaspoonful of sugar, as 
per edge and between the gold lines. 
It is well to copy some fine model, and endeavor to 
make a perfect imitation. This all done, allow to dry ; 
then have some liquid plaster, made by mixing fine 
plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of cream; 
pour in a cup full, and quickly turn the chimney about 
until every part receives a coat; then pour out any 
surplus, and mix another cupful, with which proceed 
in the same maimer. This gives a pure white ground 
as perfect as the finest French china. 
Now, if you wish to color the ground, for instance, 
in imitation of the fine Rose du Barry china, mix be¬ 
forehand in the water a little fine pink-color powder 
(rose-pink) ; if Pelissy, use delicate turquoise blue 
(ultra-marine); and so on, buff, straw-color, pale green, 
etc. Or for Etruscan, use dull, deep reds, dark leaden- 
blue ; for Chinese and Japanese, black, vermillion, 
dark blue and yellow, and if the Indian wares are de¬ 
sired, apply the black Silhouette pictures, and scarlet 
grounds. 
Try one in imitation of the crystal or frost-grounds 
of some of the Mintontiles, thus: procure some 
“frosting” sold in the art-stores and by many drug¬ 
gists. After putting on the designs, coat the entire 
surface, inside, with demar-varnish, mixed with one- 
fifth part of balsam of fir; allow to dry until just 
Charming window-boxes, jardinieres, etc., are made 
by these means, by applying the pictures and ground 
to panes of plain glass, then slipping them into 
grooves cut in the face of the wooden sides and ends. 
Panels of cabinet and side-board doors are very ele¬ 
gant thus finished, a narrow gilt or wooden moulding- 
holding them fast. 
To crystalize grasses, use one pound of alum to one 
pint of water; suspend the grasses in the solution 
until the crystals form, then remove and dry them ; if 
left too long they will become too heavy ; a snow-like 
appearance is given by drying them rapidly, in the 
burning noonday sun of summer, or in a hot 
oven. 
Use lemon dyes for grasses, diluting them to make 
pale shades; vivid crimsons, yellows, etc., have a most 
vulgar appearance. 
Kerosene Stoves. —In answer to Mrs. Griscom’s 
query regarding kerosene stoves, I would say, yes. I 
have tested them pretty fully, having had one of the 
very first that came out, and also the fullest oppor¬ 
tunity of trying the “Florence” and other late 
patents ; for ironing, picnics, getting up a little meal 
on short notice, and as a resort in sickness, or other 
emergency, they are invaluable, and I would not like 
to be without one, especially when the thermometer 
suddenly descends far below zero, and my plant-room 
is in danger; but to use in place of the regular old 
cooking-stove—never! They are not capable of ac¬ 
complishing as much as a family of four persons 
ordinarily require, taking an entire month through ; the 
odor is unpleasant, and there is some danger from ex- j 
plosion, owing to the likelihood of careless hands, or 
inattention to that daily care required with constant 
use. I believe I should prefer the “ Florence ” to any 
other. “ Aunt Carrie.” 
Omelette. —Mrs. A. B. G——d.—A “ corn ome¬ 
lette” is made thus: grate six ears of well-filled corn 
much soda as will rest upon the point of a spoon, pepper, 
salt, and four tablespoonfuls of milk ; beat well, then 
lightly add the whites; put a teacupful of butter and 
lard, mixed, into a small frying-pan (cast-iron), and 
when boiling hot pour in the omelette; fry for ten 
minutes carefully, opening places through it over the 
surface to let the soft part descend, as in other ome¬ 
lettes ; then put into the oven for half an hour or less, 
if quick, and when slightly browned, fold over and 
turn over on a platter, placing it over and dexterously 
turning the pan. 
Egg-Beater. —Mrs. G. A. Brown.—The very best 
and only egg-beater I ever used with satisfaction is 
called “ The Dover,” and it may be bought for from 50 
to 75 cents, according to the furnisher. 
Lambrequins.— Miss Ada Spafford.—A “ shaped 
lambrecuin ” is one that is cut out in gracefully-carved 
lines, and put plainly across the wooden frame, behind 
the cornice, without plaits or fullness of any kind. 
There are beautiful “ splashers,” “ washstand guards,” 
made of enamelled oilcloth, by taking some light shade, 
as buff, laying a border of ivy-leaves, cut from paper, 
around them, forming a centre piece in the same man¬ 
ner, holding all down with pins, in the usual way, then 
casting a spray of thin black paint, made by rubbing 
tacky, then sprinkle on the crushed “frosting,” or lamp _ black in turpentine, then adding copal-varnish 
‘ diamond-powder,” and allow to dry thoroughly; 
then put on the ground as directed, and you will find 
the effect fine beyond description. 
until just thick enough to take up on a brush and 
“spatter” on a piece of wire-net, or across a comb. 
When dry take up the papers; vein all leaves with a 
small camel’s hair brush, and make tendrils or other 
lines. The effect is beautiful. Maple leaves look 
well^also Convolvulus vine. 
Guards. —Another elegant “guard” is made of 
linen damask colored, embroidered with zephyr of ap¬ 
propriate colors, in chain or feather stitch, working 
the monogram of the owner of the room in the 
centre. 
Again, get a piece of white Java canvas ; embroider 
a border round the four sides, and the monogram or 
Christian name in the centre, in large ornamental let¬ 
ters ; fringe out the edges. 
Or cut a piece of Swiss muslin of proper size; cut 
the monogram or name from shirting muslin; cover 
the one side with flour-paste, mixed with a very little 
gum-arabic mucilage, and, putting them in place in 
the centre, arrange a vine of ivy, or other leaves, 
around this, thus : get three sizes of any pretty leaf 
of a running vine, cut paper patterns from them, which 
place on the muslin ; cut them out, and having wet 
them with the paste, put them on a serpentine stem 
made by placing a small saucer or “ individual” but¬ 
ter-plate on the paper, marking out one-half of the 
circle, then reversing it, and moving it along, so that 
the other half circle joins the preceding one ; thus a 
waved stem is formed, which must be about one- 
fourth of an inch wide ; the leaves should be arranged 
on this, one up and one down ; then run two or more 
three-inch or four-inch strips on the sewing machine ; 
gather or plait, and put on in scantily-full ruffles, one 
above the other; flute these; line with pink, green 
or other bright colored cambric, and you have a dainty 
and beautiful finish to your washstand. 
After putting on the muslin letters, spread a damp 
towel over, and hold warm flat-irons on until the 
whole is dry and smooth. This appears like embroi¬ 
dery, and is very beauttful. 
Aunt Carrie. 
